Why Is Squarespace a good choice for Professional Coaches?
If you're just starting out, picking and choosing the right platform for a website can be daunting. As a coach, choosing whether to use Wordpress, Squarespace, Wix, or others is scary. All you want is to pick something that is easy for you to handle on your own or with little help. If this resonates with you, keep reading...
There are several platforms out there in the world wild web. I'm sure you have heard of Wordpress, Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, Weeble and the list goes on. Before diving into one of these platforms, you've to be clear who you are targeting. I'll be honest with you that having a website won't bring the client you want to you. It's all in the messaging. what is your message to them? If that piece is lacking, not even a great website will attract the clients you need to have a thriving business.
1| Choosing the right platform
OK, now that we've touched on messaging, let's move to the platforms. The decision to which platform to use hinges on your technical abilities.
If you're one who prefers to do things on your own, like take on a DIY project, you might consider a website builder. A website builder is a tool that allows you to drag and drop sections of your website as you build it. Squarespace is a very good example because it is all pretty much done for you. I'm partial to Squarespace and I'll tell you why in a few moments.
Wordpress is another platform that is very popular. If you are looking for simplicity in managing your website on your own, I would stay away from Wordpress. I used Wordpress before and almost pulled my hair out because of the high learning curve. It was way too steep, to say the least, and I'm a technical person. I can't imagine how it will be for a coach who is not tech-savvy. By all means, if you love a good challenge, give Wordpress a try. I wrote this article a while back comparing Wordpress and Squarespace, you can read it here.
2| Why Squarespace
If you rather go the easy way, I'll strongly suggest Squarespace as the platform to host your business. Why? here is why:
Ease of use
Design and Interface navigation
SEO
Pricing Plans
Mobile Responsiveness
Overview of Squarespace
Squarespace is a website publishing and editing platform. Its users create the most beautiful, modern and mobile responsive websites. No coding experience needed. Yes, you don't need to know code to use Squarespace! Love that!
Squarespace has designed its platform and presented it in a way that it is easy for a user to navigate. Squarespace handles security updates and changes on the backend. You'll never need to worry about such things. Love that even more. Squarespace also offers templates that allow users to start their website. You select a template and make the necessary changes to make it your own. You can add your brand colors, logo and content to name a few. What I love about Squarespace is that they cater to different industries. Are you a solopreneur? check they have you covered, are you creative professional like a coach? Check, Are you a small business owner like a restaurant owner? Check. With Squarespace, you are covered.
Ease of use
Squarespace, as mentioned earlier, is a drag and drop builder. You can drag one element from one place to another without any code. The interface is easy to use and very intuitive. Below is an example of a page builder in Squarespace. This platform is so much easier to use than Wordpress!
Interface and Design
The Squarespace interface is straight forward. As with anything, you first have to get familiar with the platform. The basic login, how to select a template, how to update pages and add your branding to it. Once you have an idea of the flow, you are good to go. Below is another example of the navigation in Squarespace just to give you an idea.
SEO
At this stage, you may be wondering what SEO is. This is the lingo that everyone uses nowadays. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. Its most basic definition means how you rank in Google searches. Using keywords across your website increases your chance of appearing in Google search results.
Pricing Plans
Squarespace offers different pricing plans. You have the option to select the plan that works best for your business. Here is the breakdown in pricing:
Personal - $12/mo
Business - $18/mo
Basic Commerce - $26/mo
Advanced Commerce - $40/mo
With each plan, you get a free domain hosted by Squarespace. You also can get an extra 20% off if you choose to work with a designer for your first year of subscription. Each plan comes with unlimited bandwidth, storage, and a top-notch 24/7 customer service! You can take a closer look at Squarespace plans right here. Be sure to read each plan so you get the right plan for your business. You are not stuck with a plan and can always upgrade to a higher plan when your business needs it.
Mobile Responsiveness
Yep, having a website means you also want your website to display well on an iPhone, Android or tablet. Squarespace makes your template responsive to mobile devices. Check on this one too.
In summary, Squarespace is a great option if you are on a budget and want to DIY your site without all the techy stuff. It's great for coaches who want a professional website without the hassle.
So what do you think of using Squarespace for your website? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. If you have any questions about website building, go ahead and book a discovery call.